Rating: K+



                  A Portrait of Carolyn for the Captain by Anne   


Carolyn had a wonderful idea for the Captain's birthday this year. She would give him a painting of her in which she would wear a beautiful dress reminiscent of the 19th century.  She knew he would love it. Carolyn also knew she had only three weeks time in which to get it painted.  But which artist could paint it in this time and where was the best place to have it done?  It couldn't be made in Schooner Bay, that was for sure. She knew Captain Gregg would react with jealousy if he were to see another man around her, quite particularly if it were an artist. He would immediately spoil the whole thing.   
Carolyn was working on a new story again when she got a phone call. She picked it up and answered. She hadn't any idea that on the other end was the woman she had met on Valentine's Day. "Hello. Who is there?"   
"This is Helena, Mrs. Muir." the voice answered mysteriously.   
"Helena, who?" Carolyn wanted to know.  
 The prompt answer came as a lightning bolt. "I'll tell you. We both met on the last Valentine's Day. I think you remember now, I am your missing relative."  
 In her excitement, Carolyn dropped the phone.  She hadn't thought to hear from Helena again.   
"Mrs. Muir, you are still there?" the young lady called into the phone.   
Mrs. Muir recovered quickly from her first shock and pick up the phone again. "Yes, I'm still here. May I ask what you want from me right now?" She peeked around to see if the Captain was in the room. She hoped that Daniel hadn't heard the phone, because she had the feeling that this call would get her help to make that painting.   
Helena noticed the excitement in Carolyn's voice and said, "It's because of Captain Gregg's birthday that I'm calling.  I wanted to give him something and I wasn't sure if you would like that another woman would give him anything." Helena knew about Carolyn's jealousy of other women in the Captain's past. She didn't want to hurt her and particularly not since both were related.  
 Mrs. Muir was perplexed. 'Why would Helena want to give something to Daniel and what?  And how did she know when his birthday was?' Now she was  curious and asked after she had made sure that Daniel wasn't nearby, "You say, you want to give him something?  I don't understand. Why and what?"   
"Okay, I'll tell you." Helena answered.   "But first, please, make sure the Captain isn't around."   
"I can assure you, he isn't here. And now would you tell me, please?" Carolyn was now very curious.  
 "Okay." Helena said. And she told Carolyn what she wanted to give him.   
Carolyn was enthusiastic about this idea for the simple reason it was the same one she had. She hadn't had any idea that Helena was an artist.    "Terrific, Helena!" Carolyn said enthusiastically. "Could we do something?"  
"Of course, Carolyn. What is it?  Out with it!" Helena had the feeling that she knew what Carolyn wanted from her.   
"I wanted to give the Captain a painting of me and you could paint it. So it would be a gift from both of us."   
"Brilliant idea. Okay! Let's make the first date for a meeting. I know we have only three weeks, but I can do it in this time." Helena was enthusiastic, too. "I tell you what, I have the perfect place for our meetings. BOSTON! I have a studio there that would be perfect. Can you get away from home without the Captain knowing what you are doing all the time?"   
"Of course, I can!" Carolyn was a little confused. "Could we make the first meeting tomorrow? That would be perfect because I have another meeting with my publisher in Boston then."   
"Terrific!  I'll pick you up there and we can begin with the painting."  With that, Helena hung up before Mrs. Muir could ask how Helena knew who her publisher was.   
It was a short time after the call when Daniel appeared beside her desk. He noticed Carolyn's strange facial expression and wanted to know why.  He hadn't heard anything of the conversation. "I heard the phone. Who was on the other end?"  
 "No one!" was Carolyn's short answer.  
 "No one!" Daniel called with thunder in his voice. "You tell me immediately who was on the phone or...!"   
"Or what?" Mrs. Muir spoke fiercely back. She knew that he thought it was a man on the other end. 'Let him deal with it!'  she thought.   
Since the Captain was sure he wouldn't receive any clear answer from Carolyn, he vanished in wild rage out of the room without a further word. In his rage, he didn't notice the cryptic yet loving smile of Mrs. Muir about his jealous reaction.  
Now Daniel was pacing the attic. His mood became increasingly bad and thunder rolled through the air. Outside a terrible storm began pulling up. 'Why wouldn't she tell me who was on the phone? Now I'm very sure it was a man. She wants to meet him, that's why she didn't want to tell me anything. I'll break this man bone by bone if I get hold of him.'  
 It was later on in the evening and Carolyn got to bed earlier because she wanted to get up very early in the next morning. But how she could sleep during that terrible storm outside?  She knew the Captain was the cause for it. His reaction was clearly enough because she hadn't told him who was on the phone. She loved it when he reacted in jealousy but she never would admit it in front of him. However, she got some sleep after all.   
Very early the next morning, Carolyn was on the way to her car. The sky was clear now after that terrible thunder storm last night. It looked almost as if the Captain had calmed himself down. But she knew this quiet was deceitful. She also knew Daniel wouldn't give up his curiosity so suddenly. Carolyn could tell that it would be three exciting weeks.   
Just as she opened the car door, Captain Gregg appeared by her side. "Good morning, my dear!" he greeted her. "You are up so early. May I ask where you wanted to drive?" his voice seemed a little bit kinder but Carolyn could tell that wasn't the case.   
"I'm going to Boston. I have a meeting with my publisher about my last story, that's all. I thought I had told you that before." Carolyn answered with a smile on her lips, hiding from him the fact that she also want to meet a artist.   
"Oh yes, of course!" but his voice sounded quite convinced. "Please, drive carefully, madame."  
Before Carolyn could answer, he was gone without saying a further word. She knew, as she got into her car, that Daniel was up to something.  But for now she didn't want to think of it.                     
******************   
After Carolyn had met her publisher, Helena was waiting outside of the building for her and greeted her. "Hey Carolyn! Here I am as I promised. Where is your car?"   
"Hey Helena!" Carolyn greeted back. "My car is right over there on the other side of the street. Can we go now?"  
 "Of course!" came the young lady's voice.  
With that, both women made their way to Mrs. Muir's station wagon. Both got in and were on the way to Helena's studio.   
Once in the studio, Helena said, "While I'm building up the easel, you can change into your other dress behind the curtain over there." the young lady said. In the meantime, Helena arranged the brushes and the colors she wanted to use because she knew what Carolyn wanted to wear.   
Carolyn was ready for the first sitting now. Helena saw her and said. "Oh, Carolyn, you look so beautiful in that dress. I dare say the Captain will love your portrait."   
"Why, thank you, Helena." Mrs. Muir answered, smiling. "Can we begin?  What should I do?"   
"Oh yes, please take your place right over there." Helena indicated on the place opposite to her. And Carolyn made herself comfortable as far as it was possible in this dress. "That's perfect! Remain so." and the young lady began with the first brush lines.             
*****************  
At the same time in Gull Cottage, Captain Gregg was trying feverishly to find out who could have been this ominous caller. First, he had questioned Martha in case Mrs. Muir would have told her something. But that wasn't the case.  Martha didn't know anything because she was just curious as he was.   Now he was even more angry and even more convinced that it had to be a man she had a meeting with. His mood darkened increasingly. 'Okay.' he thought 'I will ask her again when she comes back this evening. She can count on it.' and thunder ran through the air again.    It was very late in the evening when Mrs. Muir came back home. She was very tired from her first sitting for the painting.  She would have to go back in two days again to Boston for the next meeting. Helena was very professional about painting.  As she got into her room, Daniel was waiting for her.             
"Good evening, Captain. Is there something you want from me?  I'm very tired and I didn't want to discuss anything right now, please."  
"Good evening, my dear." he greeted back. "Oh yes, and there is something I want from you." with a little anger in his voice but then he changed the subject. "Since you are tired we can talk about it  tomorrow. But we will talk. Good night, Mrs. Muir." he vanished abruptly and thunder rolled through the air anew.   
"Good night, Captain." she called after  him. She knew he wouldn't give up the questions about that phone call. And in her thoughts, she continued, 'Oh Daniel, I wish I could tell you just now that you are very wrong about thinking I would meet another man. But I can't, that would ruin my surprise for you. I love you.' with that last thought, after she had got in her night things, she went to bed. Carolyn fell asleep just in the moment she lay down. Now she was dreaming of the Captain.   
But it was a horrible dream. Daniel and she had a terrible fight about the subject of men and women in one another's life. Both were reacting very jealously. And the end was that Daniel had vanished completely from her sight and was never seen again.   
Because of this nightmare, Carolyn woke up much too early the next morning and she felt herself very hot. She couldn't believe what she had just dreamed and she hoped that this nightmare hadn't come true. 'No please!' she cried in her thoughts. 'He can't be gone. I need him!'
Carolyn looked around the room and to her happiness, she saw the Captain standing by the telescope and looking out through the window. She didn't know how long he had stood there. She only hoped that he hadn't noticed her excited condition yet, so that she had enough time to calm herself down. And she wished he wouldn't notice her tear-stained eyes. He would immediately notice that something was wrong. She couldn't bear to hear his questions about what the matter with her.
She couldn't know that he had spent half of the night in her room and had watched her sleep. And so he had became aware of her terrible sleep and her cries after him. Now Daniel noticed that Mrs. Muir was awake. "Good morning, my dear." his voice sounded a little more peaceful this morning. "Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Captain." she tried not sounding excited. 'Oh good, he didn't noticed my excitement and my tears.' she thought and said to the Captain, "Oh yes, I slept very well, thank you." Which of course, was a neat lie, with regard to her nightmare. She hoped he hadn't noticed it.
Naturally he had noticed her lie, but he didn't say a word about the subject. "Very well, I'll leave you now, so that you may get dressed. See you later." with that he was gone.
Carolyn got up, put on her bathrobe and went to the bathroom. She couldn't sleep any longer, her night's rest was more or less over. But she was happy she hadn't lost the Captain forever. In her happiness, Daniel's mischievous grin escaped her.
******************
The next of her two trips to Boston in that first week went without further discussions with Captain Gregg. Carolyn found this very strange. She knew Daniel wouldn't give up his curiosity so quickly. And she was right. In the second week, it became much worse. It was on Wednesday, her fourth meeting with the artist. Before she had left Gull Cottage, Carolyn had again had an intense discussion with Daniel because of her new trip to Boston. This time he had confronted her again with the fact she would have a meeting with a man. Daniel was quite sure of it now because Carolyn hadn't spoken to him about it this time either.
When Mrs. Muir arrived at the studio, Helena noticed that something was very wrong this day. She saw Carolyn tear-stained eyes and her excitement. 'She must have cried on her drive here.' Helena thought. And with concern in her voice she asked, "Something the matter, Carolyn? Should you not feel well, we could leave the meeting for another time."
"No, we can make it." Carolyn protested. "I didn't sleep very well last night, that's all." she said as she got behind the curtain to change her dress.
"Okay!" Helena said, but she wasn't quite convinced. She could tell that Carolyn and the Captain had a terrible fight this morning because her renewed trip to Boston. But the young lady changed the subject to take Carolyn to other thoughts.
***************
Four hours before Mrs. Muir was back home, Ed Peevey knocked at the front door. Martha had invited him for another cherry pie. Martha heard the knock and opened the door "Oh, hello, Ed." she greeted him. "Come in." and then Martha noticed Ed's puzzled face. "What's the matter, Ed?" she wanted to know.
Mr. Peevey wasn't sure whether he should tell Martha what he had seen when he was in Boston two days ago. But then he did. As he got into the house he told Martha his observation. "I was in Boston two days ago."
Ms Grant interrupted him a little bit harshly. "So you were in Boston. Is that what you wanted to tell me?"
"Of course not. Can I continue now?" he was a little indignant.
"Sorry." Martha was abashed. "Please continue."
"I was looking for a special shop. When I walked along the streets, suddenly I saw Mrs. Muir. I hadn't any idea that she was in Boston, too. That's why I was curious. And my curiosity grew even more when I saw a young man come behind her and put his right arm around her waist." What Mr. Peevey didn't know that it wasn't Carolyn but Helena who had had the intimate contact with this young man. Because Carolyn hadn't been in Boston that day. Instead, she had been in Keystone on a shopping trip.
Now Martha was close to fainting because she couldn't believe what she had just heard. In this moment she didn't remember that Mrs. Muir was in Keystone not in Boston. "ED!" she cried. "Are you sure about your observation? I don't believe it."
This cry got to the Captain's ears. He vanished from the attic to take a look at what was going on downstairs. He was invisible to everyone downstairs so that he could follow the further conversation.
"I'm very sure, Martha." Ed continued. "I saw her and this young man. And she kissed him very passionately. You can believe it, I saw it with my one eyes."
Daniel heard it too and knew they were talking of Carolyn. 'I was right!' His anger grew even more. 'She had a meeting with another man in Boston. And she is in love with him.' Now he was in full jealous rage. 'Now I know exactly what is going on and Carolyn cannot avoid me any more. I want to confront her tonight with the fact that I know.' And this time he wouldn't leave her side however tired she was when she came home. Daniel wouldn't let Carolyn sleep this night till she had given him a clear answer. Outside, a terrible storm began again to arise and thunder rolled through the air.
Martha noticed Ed's frightened face about the thunder and tried to calm him down. She knew Mr. Peevey believe the horrible stories of Gull Cottage. "Ed, it's nothing really, we always have a little bit of that here. Nothing to be frightened about, believe me. Come on, let's have your cherry pie and you'll feel better after that." with that Ed and Martha entered the kitchen. And Ms Grant had no idea why the Captain was so angry.
********************
This time it was very late in the evening again when Mrs. Muir got home. The sky was clear. But Carolyn felt that something terrible would be happen when she got into the house. She closed the door and went up the stairs to her room.
When she entered her bedroom, she saw a very annoyed Captain standing by the telescope. "What's the matter, Captain?" she wanted to know, resigning herself to the very real possibility that she wouldn't get any sleep this night. "What's the matter?" he yelled. "You ask me what's the matter?"
"Yes!" Carolyn whispered, not knowing what he spoke of this time.
His anger began to grow again. "Oh, come on! Don't play the innocent, madame. You know perfectly well what I'm talking." He was in a very jealous rage now.
"No, I don't." Now Carolyn yelled back. "Okay, you are evading me again."
Daniel yelled again. "Then I will tell you. Someone saw you two days ago in Boston in the arms of another man. And you have kissed him very passionately in public." Thunder was heard again.
'So this is what bothers him this time. I cannot let him continue to believe that I would let another man near enough to kiss me. He must know that only he is the one I love.' Carolyn thought. In the direction of the Captain, she said. "So, that's what worries you. You really believe that I would ran off with another man? You should know me better." now she was in rage, too.
I...." but he couldn't continue because Carolyn didn't let him finish. "Captain, on that day I wasn't in Boston. Whoever claims to have seen me there definitely needs glasses." Then happened like a lightning to her. 'Helena told me at our last meeting that she had met a very nice young man in Boston. I'll bet that was the meeting that mysterious person saw and believed was me.' Daniel didn't believe her so he yelled again.
"So you want to tell me you weren't in Boston that day. You are right, I don't believe you. You drive every time to Boston and then you have the impudence telling me you weren't there on that day."
This was too much, so she yelled back. "Alright, you don't believe me. Then I have nothing further to say." Subbed, she turned her back upon to him. She wouldn't let him see her tears.
But it was too late, Daniel had noticed her tears. Now he stood close behind her. As if met by lightning, it suddenly became clear to him that Carolyn hadn't been in Boston on that day. In his jealous anger, he had forgotten totally that she was in Keystone on a shopping trip. But who was the person Mr. Peevey saw in Boston that day? He would get over this later. First he must make peace with his beloved Carolyn, he couldn't let her stand in this anger any longer. "Please don't cry, my dear." he now said in a softer voice. "You know I can't stand it. And of course, I believe you. Please Carolyn, face me."
When she heard her first name by the Captain, she turned around and faced him. Now she had a little smile on her lips. In her happiness, she didn't realize what she was going to do. She put her arms around Daniel's neck and kissed him. Then suddenly Carolyn pushed him away when she noticed what she had just done. "Sorry, Captain!" She got red in the face when it became clear to her that she had just touched and kissed him. Not only that, she had felt his strong arms around her waist. But how was that possible? And how did it feel? 'Wonderful!' Carolyn thought she wanted more but couldn't bring herself to do it again.
"Are you alright, my dear?" Daniel asked with concern when he noticed her agitation. 'I knew I should have told her that I can touch her. Well, I'll better make some distance between us, before something else happens.' and he vanished abruptly from her sight.
"Captain!" she shouted. "You come back here this instant!" Her tiredness was suddenly blow away. She wanted more of him this night. She waited but he didn't come back so she went to bed frustrated and began to curse. "Blast! I'll be after you, Captain. You can count on it."
*******************
The rest of the week was very quiet. No quarrel or thunder in Gull Cottage. And Mrs. Muir's next meeting with the artist in this week went without further incident. Helena told Carolyn that she needed her only for two last sittings next week to get the portrait done. For the last finishing touches, further meetings weren't necessary. She could do the rest without Carolyn. "I'll see you next week, Carolyn. And then I'll finish your portrait."
"That's wonderful, Helena. Can I take a quick look at it, please?"
"Oh yes, You'll see how far I am."
And Carolyn took a quick look at it. "That's so beautiful, Helena. You are really professional. And you really think you can finish it next week?"
"Of course, Carolyn. And now you should get back into your other clothes. You wouldn't like to go outside in this dress."
"Of course not!" as Carolyn got behind the curtain. It was late as Mrs. Muir made her way to her car. She had just reached the station wagon when a man came behind her and put his arms around her waist. The stranger thought it was Helena he was holding. Carolyn was so shocked about this intimacy that she in her rage turned around and gave this man a terrible blow into his face. Hit by this blow, the young man fell to the ground. Now he was lay unconscious on the street. Carolyn didn't know whether was it her blow which had put the man in this position. She knew only one thing, she had to get away from here as fast as possible before this man recovered. She stepped so hard on the accelerator pedal that the car mad a terrible screech forward.
She jumped as she heard a voice which she knew very well. "My dear, you should drive more carefully. You could hurt yourself."
"Captain Gregg?" It was more a statement then a question.
"Yes, my dear." his voice came again and he appeared on the seat beside her.
"What are you doing here?" Carolyn wanted to know. She had no idea how the Captain had made the long trip from Schooner Bay to Boston. But she would face reality later. Now it was clear to her who had given this impudent man the blow into the face. "And thank you for rescue me." she smiled brightly at him.
 "My pleasure, my dear." he knew she wanted to hear something more from him. 'Blast it all, I still haven't found out why Carolyn drives to Boston all this time. Now I know that it isn't a man, but that's all. BLAST!' If he had watched her more closely he would have seen that she had come out the direction of a house with a studio window.
*******************
At Carolyn's last meeting with Helena, it was late again when the young lady finished the last brush lines with Mrs. Muir as model. Now it would taken only a few finishing touches and the portrait would be ready. Helena says goodbye to Carolyn and informed her when she could collect the picture. Carolyn was just about to go when a young man came in the door. Carolyn recognized him as the one with whom she had had the unfortunate meeting last week.
The man suddenly was as still as if he had taken root in the door frames. He couldn't believe what he was seeing just now. Two women who looked like identical twins. That's why he had made this mistaken last week.
Helena acted very quickly. In a hurry, she threw a big cloth over Carolyn's painting. Her friend was never allowed to get to see this portrait. "Phillip, don't take root there, come in. May I introduce you both? Mrs. Muir, this Phillip Henderson, who I met a short awhile ago here in town. He is a artist, too. And Phillip, this is Mrs. Muir from Schooner Bay."
Phillip took Carolyn's right hand and kissed her wrist. "Very pleased to meet you." he was enraptured by her beauty. "Maybe we could meet again. I would love it."
"Would you let go out of my hand, please?" Carolyn noticed that Phillip was still holding her right hand. "It was nice to meet you, Mr. Henderson, but it would be impossible to repeat this meeting. I'm very busy all the time. I have two children who need me more then you could know." and in her thoughts. 'And I need someone else more then you really know, Mr. Henderson.' Mrs. Muir didn't pleased at all by Phillip's obtrusive manner.
Helena saved the whole tricky situation in the only sensible way. She ran like a wild fury towards Phillip and gave him a terrible slap into the face. "Get out!" she cried. "And don't you dare come back here."
Phillip had only one single choice which was to disappear as quickly as possible, because he didn't know what Helena or Mrs. Muir were up to next. He saw that both were determined wildly to teach him a terrible lesson. Both women laughed when they saw the completely intimidated man running down the stairs. In the whole excitement, neither Carolyn nor Helena noticed that Captain Gregg was suddenly in the room. Thank God he hadn't noticed the painting on the easel.
Then both heart a further terrible laughter, which Carolyn knew only to well. Both women jumped and turned around to face Captain Daniel Gregg. 'How was it possible that he got again to Boston?" Carolyn thought. 'I must find out.' "Captain Gregg, may I ask you what you are doing here again? Are you spying on me?"
"Of course not!" Daniel felt snubbed. "I'm only here to make sure that nothing will happen to you, my dear." he grinned over whole face. "But I see you have the situation completely under control."
Mrs. Muir, however, knew why he was here again. He wanted to find out what made her drive up here all the time, because he hadn't find out yet the true reason. "Helena, that's Captain Gregg. "The overbearing...." she didn't finish. "Don't say it, Carolyn. I know it. Exactly the same boisterous character as in the case of the spirit of my great-grandmother. GREGG's! Oh pardon, and WILLIAMS, too! Oops! Me and my big mouth. If you both will excuse me, I've work to do."
"Oh yes, Helena. How thoughtless of me. Captain, I think we should leave Helena to her work. I'll tell you at home about Helena's profession. Good bye, Helena!"
"Good bye, Carolyn, Captain! Oh, Carolyn, I'll call when I'm ready."
"That would be nice. Thank you!" with that Carolyn and Daniel left the studio. On the way down the stairs Daniel was curious. "What did Helena mean when she said she will call you?"
"Please, Captain, no more questions. I'll tell you everything when we are home again and you can explain to me how it's possible that you could have followed me. Agreeable?"
"Agreeable!" came Daniel's voice. But he still hadn't found out what was the true reason for her meetings with Helena. However, one thing now completely clear to him was that Carolyn really loved him.
On the way to Carolyn's car, it came to her like a lightning bolt. 'Had her painting in this special case the magical strength that the Captain could follow her to Boston twice?" She would face this reality later.
******************
On the Captain's birthday, everyone was home. The kids were back from their weekly school trip and had bought two presents for the Captain's birthday during the trip. Only Martha wasn't there as she had gone away with Ed Peevey. He had invited her for a trip to Boston.
Later that evening, after the children were in bed, Daniel and Carolyn were sitting in living room when a knock came at the front door. "Excuse me for moment, Captain. I think that will be your present."
"Present? For me?" Daniel was astonished and curious at the same. 'So that was it why she was in Boston all the time.' he thought. 'She bought me a present. I hope it's just beautiful as she is.'
Carolyn opened the door and before her stood Helena with the painting. "Would you come in, Helena? We should give it to him at the same time."
"That would be nice, but I think you should give him this by yourself. We can talk again. You see, I'm very busy. I have a new order for another painting. That's very important to me. Good bye!"
Before Carolyn could say another word, Helena was gone. Mrs. Muir took the painting into the house. When she turned around, she saw Daniel standing before her.
"What have you there, my dear?" he wanted to know.
"Your present, Captain." and Carolyn gave it to him.
Daniel took it from her and then opened the package. He was taken back when he saw the painted portrait of Carolyn and she was dressed in the style of the 19th century. "Oh, my dear, that's so beautiful. No woman has ever given me a greater gift. We should hang it near my portrait. But wait, I know a better place. Come, my dear." and both made their way upstairs.
Carolyn suddenly knew where he wanted to have it. In their room. Then they were in the room and had closed the door behind them. Before Carolyn knew what had happening, she was swept into his arms. "Carolyn, I wanted to thank you for the wonderful gift. You know we can touch."
"Of course, Daniel." she whispered against his lips. "Happy birthday, my love." She put her arms around his neck, and he thanked her for the present by kissing her passionately.


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